For more than 20 years, the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber has recognized businesses of all sizes, entrepreneurs and not-for-profits for their contributions to the business community. In 2013, the Chamber revamped the ChamberChoice Awards program to recognize more members and enhance the prestige surrounding the event to make it a truly star-worthy event. (See also related samples for the ticket, invitation, and program).

For more than 20 years, the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber has recognized businesses of all sizes, entrepreneurs and not-for-profits for their contributions to the business community. In 2013, the Chamber revamped the ChamberChoice Awards program to recognize more members and enhance the prestige surrounding the event to make it a truly star-worthy event.

Nominations opened in January 2013 and closed at the end of February. A record-breaking 135 nominations were received, and 57 businesses successfully completed the application to become candidates for the awards, which are given out in six categories:

Small Business of the Year

Business of the Year

Small Not-For-Profit of the Year

Not-For-Profit of the Year

Entrepreneur of the Year

Young Professionals Best Place to Work

For the first time, all candidates were featured in a short video montage* with photos and company logos and received two tickets to attend the luncheon, which featured a star-studded theme, emcee who was also featured at the 2012 ACCE awards ceremony, blue carpet emblazoned with The Chamber logo, and a new, star-shaped stage that dominates the room. The finalists for each category were not announced until the lunch, another change enacted to create increased engagement with the event and provide more recognition for the candidates.

In addition, videos of each of the three finalists were shown at the event and provided to the finalist afterward to be used in marketing purposes. Each candidate was recognized in the event program and the finalists received a plaque recognizing the achievement.

ChamberChoice winners received a trophy to display in their business, gave an acceptance speech onstage, a profile in The Chamber’s monthly newsletter with a circulation of nearly 3,000, and a free booth at a Business After Hours event, which average 500 attendees.

We used the hashtag #ChamberChoice13 to generate discussion online, and 53 companies or individuals tweeted using the hashtag in the weeks leading up to and day of the event.

Approximately 750 people attended the 2013 ChamberChoice Awards Luncheon, and two local media outlets covered the event in their publications.